Convalidation
April 1, 2009
I have had a few questions this past week about convalidation. So I called a former RC Priest and his wife and they have agreed to write me an article for my website!
So till that arrives here is what I have been told.
What is convalidation?
Convalidation is when a couple is married outside the Roman Catholic Church then, at a later date, they approach the church to sacramentalize the marriage.
'More often than not the priest will not require all the premarital instruction as usually required since the priest/church often want them to be married asap to regularize the marriage in the eyes of the church. In other words, get them out of the state of sin that they are living in.'
'The church's primary interest is in maintaining the sanctity of the sacramental act of marriage.' If they know that a couple has had a previous intention to have the marriage convalidated, the previous intent makes them ineligible.
It is recommended to wait at least 6 months to a year before requesting a convalidation. The church wants to hear the couple express regret for the 'mistake' of not being married in the Roman Catholic Church, and to show a desire 'correct' the wrong that has been done.
Sacrementalization, when given, is extended to that date of the original marriage. This is not normally a formal ceremony, rather the couple and their witnesses.
I will update this with a link when the article arrives!
UPDATE:
http://www.churchofancientways.org/convalidation.html
Happy planning!
So till that arrives here is what I have been told.
What is convalidation?
Convalidation is when a couple is married outside the Roman Catholic Church then, at a later date, they approach the church to sacramentalize the marriage.
'More often than not the priest will not require all the premarital instruction as usually required since the priest/church often want them to be married asap to regularize the marriage in the eyes of the church. In other words, get them out of the state of sin that they are living in.'
'The church's primary interest is in maintaining the sanctity of the sacramental act of marriage.' If they know that a couple has had a previous intention to have the marriage convalidated, the previous intent makes them ineligible.
It is recommended to wait at least 6 months to a year before requesting a convalidation. The church wants to hear the couple express regret for the 'mistake' of not being married in the Roman Catholic Church, and to show a desire 'correct' the wrong that has been done.
Sacrementalization, when given, is extended to that date of the original marriage. This is not normally a formal ceremony, rather the couple and their witnesses.
I will update this with a link when the article arrives!
UPDATE:
http://www.churchofancientways.org/convalidation.html
Happy planning!
